G40: Twins 9, Red Sox 8

Red Sox - 001 300 202 - 8  15  1
Twins   - 052 100 10x - 9  10  1

Wakefield (2.2-7-7-2-2, 74) put the Sox in an early 7-1 hole, but the bats would not give up.

In the fourth, Crisp's leadoff triple and singles from Cash, Cora and Youkilis closed the gap to 7-4. Ococ then smacked a two-run home run to right-center in the seventh to bring the Sox to within two runs, 8-6.

Aardsma did good work, holding Minnesota scoreless in the fifth and sixth. But then Timlin came on for the bottom of the seventh and served up a home run to Monroe (who had opened the Twins scoring with a three-run dong in the second). Twins 9-6. But after the first-batter bomb, Old Yeller retired the next five batters on only 11 pitches, thus probably earning another appearance or three in Tito's eyes.

Down by three and facing Nathan in the ninth, the Sox rallied. With one out, Youkilis and Lowell singled. Drew doubled over Gomez's head in center, bringing in Yook. With the tying run at second, Crisp lined the ball back at (and off) Nathan, who quickly grabbed the ball and was able to toss to third, nailing Drew, who had to hesitate before running in case the ball was caught. Lowell was able to score and the Sox trailed 9-8. With Manny batting for Cash, Ococ stole second, but Ramirez hit a routine grounder to short for the final out.

Tampa's 8-5 win over the Angels cut Boston's lead in the East to 1.5 games.

***
Tim Wakefield (3.33, 130 ERA+) / Nick Blackburn (3.65, 108 ERA+)

Alex Cora was activated and Jed Lowrie was sent to Pawtucket. Sean Casey is with the Sox, but has not been added to the roster.

Manny Ramirez gets the night off.

Bryan Corey has been traded to the Padres for a PTBNL/$.